Warning as Victorian disease kills one person after outbreak at uni

BRITS have been urged to be on the lookout for signs of a deadly Victorian disease after an outbreak at a university.

Medics in Wales have reassured the public that the risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB) 'remains relatively low'.

Three students at a university campus have tested positive for the illness - eight months after coming into close contact with someone who died from the disease.

The multi-agency Outbreak Control Team (OCT) have been working with the University of Wales Trinity St David to establish contacts of those affected.

Screening for the illness is also currently taking place.

The person who died from the disease sadly passed away in October 2021.

Close contacts of this person have since been diagnosed with TB and are receiving treatment.

Community screening for TB has been in place in Wales since 2019 and went on throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

TB is a bacterial infection that spreads through the body when someone inhales tiny droplets from coughs or sneezes of an infected person.

The illness mainly affects the lungs but can also have an impact on the tummy, bones, glands and nervous system.

It is curable and can be treated with antibiotics.

Dr Brendan Mason, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for Public Health Wales said work is continuing in the area to identify close contacts of the three people who have been diagnosed with active TB.

He said: “Our investigations have shown that the three individuals with active TB are all closely linked to the person who sadly died in October 2021.

"TB is difficult to transmit. It requires close and prolonged contact with an infectious individual for a person to become infected.

"Therefore, the university community and local residents can be reassured that the risk to the general public is extremely low.

“We have identified all the close contacts of the deceased person and they are receiving the necessary TB screening and follow up.

"Work is continuing to identify the close contacts of the three cases of active TB, all of whom will be invited for TB screening by Hywel Dda UHB."

The 7 signs of tuberculosis you need to know

Experts at Public Health Wales say there are seven signs of TB that you need to be aware of.

1. A persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks and usually brings up phlegm, which may be bloody
2. Weight loss
3. Night sweats
4. High temperature
5. Tiredness and fatigue
6. Loss of appetite
7. Swelling in the neck

He added that everyone should be aware of the symptoms.

"If you have symptoms, we advise that you speak to your GP, who can provide you with the appropriate advice and refer you for TB screening if required.”

Cases of tuberculosis have been creeping up in recent years - rising seven per cent last year.

The disease can be fatal if untreated, with an expert warning it "remains a serious public health issue in the UK".

England had the highest rates of TB in western Europe in 2011, but since then cases had fallen.

However due to so much focus on Covid, and people not seeking treatment for illness in the pandemic, the rates have gone up again.

In March the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned anyone with a cough that has lingered for more than three weeks to seek help.

The warning from health chiefs in Wales comes after it was revealed that cases of Victorian illnesses are at a five-year-high in one area.

Illnesses such as scarlet fever, tuberculosis, measles and mumps have all risen dramatically.

Data from the NHS shows that in Yorkshire and the Humber, cases of such conditions are at the highest levels seen since 2017.

Some patients were found to have these bugs - even when they hadn't initially been admitted for them.

Cases were up 23 per cent from those seen in 2020/21.

They had previously dipped during the coronavirus pandemic as people were unable to able to mix - and therefore other infections were unable to spread as easily.

Prior to this, these illnesses had been rising year-on-year.

We pay for your stories!

Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?

Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours